Frame fastener for window structure



Feb. 20, 1962 J. s. ROBERTS FRAME FASTENER FOR wmnow STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 21, 1960 27 3O 28. 3O 2O INVENTOR.

JAMES S. ROBERTS BY Mu KW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 021 577 FRAME FASTENER IiOR WINDOW STRUCTURE James S. Roberts, Conneaut, Ohio, assignor to Spuds Tool 8: Die, Inc., Conneaut, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 3,864 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-40) The present invention relates generally to a releasable fastener usable in securing a member within a structural opening and more particularly to a movable fastener carried by a window grill unit or the like and adapted to secure such a unit within a framed window opening.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a quickly releasable fastener which can be readily engaged or released without extensive manipulation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fastener of the character described which is secured to and carried by the unit which is to be latched or secured.

A further object is to provide a fastener of the character described which is simple to install and operate and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of .a window grill unit, as seen from the interior of a building, provided with a latch or fastener embodying the principles of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, as viewed from the exterior of the window, and showing the latch in its position of securement.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken as indicated on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the latch element.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown a conventional form of window structure consisting of a glass pane or light which is mounted in the opening defined by sash members 11, one of which is shown. The glass 10 may be secured to the sash in any suitable manner. It is here shown resting upon a shoulder or ledge 12 which is provided by the sash member 11 and is sealed and held in place by a bead 13 of glazing compound or the like. The bead 13 is customarily on the exterior side of the glass 10 and the ledge 12 is customarily on the interior side of the glass, as illus trated.

For ornamental purposes, the window may be provided with a grill unit 14 which ordinarily is made of wood and consists of a pattern of crossed mullions 15. It is desirable that the mullions 15 be secured within a frame 16 which is of a size and configuration to fit the opening defined by the sash members 11. Such ornamental grill units overlie the interior side of the glass light 10 and are ordinarily secured in position by wood screws or the like which extend through the frame 16 into the sash members 11. However, this securing arrangement is often unsightly because the side surface of the sash member may be beveled or otherwise ornamented so that it does not completely abut or lie flush with the adjacent frame elements 16, thus exposing to View part of the shank of the wood screw.

Furthermore, the sash may not have enough depth to provide an adequate surface area for such wood screw securement. However, in addition to the foregoing, such securement is not quickly releasable but requires the use of a screwdriver to remove the wood screws. The window grill unit 14 must be removed frequently for window washing and it is therefore desirable to provide a securing or latching device which will not require the use of ice tools, which will not be subject to loss or misplacement, and which is quickly releasable.

Such a fastening device 17 is illustrated in the drawings and consists of a rigid body 18 which is bent to provide a right-angled transverse flange portion 19. The flange portion is provided with an ear 20 having an upturned lip 21 which serves as a finger rest during the manipulation of the device. The body 18 is provided with a laterally extending sharply-pointed projection or prong 22 on the edge opposite to the flange 19.

The end of the body 18 which is remote from the prong 22 is embossed to provide a circular recess or depression 23 on one surface and a corresponding projection or boss 24 on the reverse surface. An opening 25 is provided within the circular recess through which a suitable fastener such as a nail 26 can be inserted into the frame 16 of the grill unit to secure the latch 17 pivotally thereto. It will be noted that the recess 23 accommodates the head of the nail 26 so that it lies substantially flush with the surface of the body 18.

The other end of the body 18 has an arcuate edge 27 which is embossed to provide a peripheral recess or track 28 on the surface of the body and a corresponding embossment or projection 29 on the reverse side of the body 18. The track terminates at abutments 30.

A suitable retainer, shown here as another nail 26, is secured to the frame 16 with its head 31 slidably engaging and overlying the track 28 on the body 18. The head 31 guides the body 18 in its pivotal movement and retains the movable end thereof in the plane of movement. The head 31 also engages the abutments 30 to limit the pivotal movement of the body 18 in both directions, although, if the device is properly mounted, its clockwise rotation will be limited by the abutment of the flange 19 with the frame 16 (as shown in FIG. 2).

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, before the grill unit is mounted in the window opening, the latch 17 is rotated to its open position (shown in phantom outline in FIG.

2), the limit of this movement being determined by the engagement of the head 31 of the retainer 26 with one of the abutments 30. In this position, the prong 22 is withdrawn so that it does not project beyond the edge of the frame 16 on which it is mounted. It will be understood that ordinarily a plurality of the latching devices 17 would be mounted on the frame of the grill unit, however, as they would be alike in structure and operation, this description is limited to one such latching device.

The window grill unit 14 is placed in its position Within the opening defined by the sash members 11 and is pressed against the interior face of the glass 14 While it is held in this position, manual pressure is applied to the finger rest or ear 20 to cause the body 18 of the latch to be rotated to the solid line position of FIG. 2. This causes the prong 22, which is adjacent to the surface of the glass 10, to penetrate the adjacent sash member 11 or, more often, the prong will penetrate at the juncture between the sash member 11 and the glass 10 so that only a slight pressure need be applied to move the latch 17 to locking position. The prong 22 is thus retained by the sash member 11 and the window grill unit is held against vibration or displacement.

It will be noted that the spaced embossments or projections 24 and 29 at the extremities of the body 18 maintain the undersurface of the body out of contact with the surface of the frame 16. This arrangement minimizes the frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the latching device and also minimizes any binding of the device in its locked position, which might interfere with its release.

When the window is to be washed or otherwise requires removal of the grill unit 14, the latches 17 are 3 readily counter-rotated to open position by pushing up on the lip 21 of the ear 26*. The grill unit can then be easily and quickly removed.

It will be noted that the mounting of the latch on the window grill unit requires no specially formed openings or recesses and that no tools are required to manipulate the latch, although positive locking is obtained. If the window grill unit is not provided with a frame 16, the latch may be mounted on the ends of the mullions 15.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A latch structure for a removable grill unit, comprising a pivoted element and a retaining means on said unit for said element, said element having one end pivotally secured to said grill unit, a sharp piercing prong on a free end of said element and moveable into a position of projection beyond the periphery of said unit, a guide track having abutment means on the free end of said element, said track being slidably moveable in said retaining means to cause said abutment means to engage said retaining means to limit pivotal movement of said element.

2. A latch structure for a removable grill unit, comprising a pivoted element and a retaining means on said unit for said element, said element having one end pivotally secured to said grill unit, a sharp piercing prong on a free end of said element and moveable into a position of projection beyond the periphery of said unit, a flange on said element engageable with aside of said unit to limit movement of said prong in one direction, a guide track having abutment means on the free end of said element, said track being slidably moveable in said retaining means to cause said abutment means to engage said retaining means to limit pivotal movement in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,483 Armbruster Nov. 12, 1895 591,356 McCall Oct. 5, 1897 616,949 Marshall Jan. 3, 1899 635,437 Hausmann Oct. 24, 1899 2,652,603 Etling Sept. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 108,281 Australia Aug. 31, 1939 

